XMandarin Chinese Language School

XMandarin Chinese Language School Reviews

Josie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Really enjoyed the classes at the school!

The Chengdu school has a very fun environment with lots of students. The staff also helped me a lot during my stay in Chengdu. The teachers are also very kind, which made me feel more comfortable during the classes.

I also liked Chengdu a lot, the city is a perfect place to live, it has a relaxed lifestyle and I do really enjoy the Sichuan Cuisine even if its a bit spicy. It is also close to Chongqing which is great to visit for a weekend trip.

I will be back in China in the future and study with XMandarin again!

Tsyren
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Chinese Language School!

This is my first time leaving my country (Russia), so it was quite an important decision where I was going. After contacting many schools in China I decided to choose XMandarin becuase of their great service and help. From applying to the visa to when I arrived at the school, everything was smooth and professional. Next semester I will do another 6 months of group classes here in Chengdu with XMandarin.

The group classes are great, I met a lot of new friends and we are all learning Chinese together inside and outside of the classroom. Chengdu is also an amazing city with lots of things to do.

Anastazja
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Au Pair Experience

I was very grateful to my au pair family for hosting me in their wonderful home. I was very lucky that I was able to live with a very bright young boy and two very hard-working parents.
At first, I was very shy. My Chinese was very poor, through classes at Xmandarin my Chinese improved, especially when talking with the parents that I lived with. The little boy was very kind, and I wish him the best in the future. I hope to come back to China someday and see how everyone is doing and what they are up to.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
On my days off I would often go on a hike in the mountains. Some days I would be too tired and I would sleep in, but I wish I would have gone on a hike every weekend. Even if it is just in Zhongsan Park. Laoshan mountain is beautiful.
Pros
  • Nature is not far from the city
  • The sea allows me to escape
  • Being an au pair allows you to study chinese and get an authentic experience
What other participants should know
  • I did not have time to solo travel unless my family took me on a trip with them
  • Sometimes my host family would do my Chinese homework for me instead of me doing it myself
Do
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

good school - improved my chinese and also my english

i have had people tell me that because i am from korea it is easier for me to learn chinese. while it may be easier for me to learn than someone from the u.s. or europe, it is still a foreign language for me. the beginner classes at xmandarin are taught in english, and so not only did my chinese improve but so did my understanding of english. i had to ask clarifying questions in english and after class i would get coffee or milk tea with some class mates and we would speak in english with each other. classes were fun and i liked qingdao city.

What would you improve about this program?
i would give students homework like ordering a coffee in chinese or going on a trip to a restaurant and all of us ordering chinese. we did that anyway after class, but having the professor would really help in case we get stuck.
Pros
  • lots of fun people
  • really good food and drinks around school
  • age groups for young and old
What other participants should know
  • the nightlife is a little dull
  • the western restaurants are expensive
Chaelyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

XMandarin Qingdao

I have been blessed to attend both group and private lessons on the Qingdao campus since August. The staff are amazing and very helpful. Ray has helped in so many ways from recommending where to get phone service, banking card, and even helped me negotiate for a nice apartment near the school. Teachers Haley and Jessie are very knowledgeable and guide our lessons based on student needs. Fairy, Clara and other office staff create a positive office atmosphere as well as set up monthly events for students to join. The last event was rock climbing! Right now they are actively planning a wonderful Christmas dinner. If your goal is to learn mandarin and get to appreciate Chinese culture, consider visiting the XMandarin Qingdao campus.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make sure that you download all of the APPs who will need in China like Alipay and Wechat. Life without wufi/cell service would be very difficult.
Pros
  • Cost
  • Staff support
  • Flexible lessons
What other participants should know
  • Juggling the private and group classes having too much fun traveling on the weekends
  • Humid and hot summer (come in September)
Noah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Homestay to Home Away From Home

I have a lot of really kind things to say about the family who hosted me in my 4-month homestay. XMandarin Chinese Language School was able to hook me up with a homestay in Qingdao. Most studio apartments here want at least 6-months or 1 year of rent (sometimes up front) and since I wanted to take off and do some solo traveling for a few months before I started University I didn't want to have to pay for 6-months when I would only use 4, and 4 months is a long time to be staying in a hotel-style accommodation. I was skeptical about the homestay at first because my Chinese level was very very basic and I was worried about feeling alone and isolated. The family, especially 奶奶, made me feel at home with her cooking. Even if I had a long day of studying, working my online job, or just having a rough day, she could tell and without saying anything she would just give me a small bowl of food. Dumplings, corn, yams, or whatever. Sometimes I wasn't hungry so I hid the food in my room until I was so she wouldn't feel bad. Sometimes we had our communication and cultural issues. But I will miss them and will continue to stay on WeChat to check the family updates.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have changed the dates that I traveled. I arrived close to the October holiday, so I had a week of not really knowing my host family and then they all left for the hometown. Now that I have been with them for the better half of 4 months, if I would have arrived so that the October holiday was a couple months in they have said they would have taken me with them. But since they thought I would prefer to travel alone they went to their hometown.
Pros
  • Authentic Chinese Learning via a family
  • I didn't have to cook - really delicious meals
  • They didn't mind if I came home late or left early
What other participants should know
  • Cultural differences that were exasperated by a language barrier
  • Tsingdao beer - too yummy, danger
  • Often there are kids in the house
Matilda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I learned a new sport - and now I have to figure out how to pack rackets in my suitcase home

As a German student from Rhode Island College, I came to China mostly focused on improving my Mandarin and experiencing a new culture. I never imagined I’d leave with a new hobby. I already have too many. And now I have 2 badminton rackets in my suitcase.

My classes at XMandarin were small, lively, and supportive. The teachers were patient with my grammar struggles. I went to almost every activity the school organized. During one event, a group of friends I’d met—along with one of the interns working at XMandarin—invited me to play badminton with them. I had seen people play before, but I never thought it was something I would enjoy. I was so wrong.

That first evening turned into a weekly ritual. Every Wednesday night we played indoors. On warm weekends, we played outside at a nearby park, and in the summer months we even took our rackets to the beach. Playing badminton became the highlight of my week and made me feel fully at home in Qingdao.

If I had to suggest improvements, maybe more weekend excursions would have been nice, especially to explore more hidden parts of the city. But overall, the experience was incredible.

I can’t wait to teach my family in Germany over Christmas. Hopefully they will like it as much as I do. If not, I'll have to go back to Qingdao.

What was your funniest moment?
When we were playing badminton on the beach one time one of my friends dove to get birdie and smacked a child running by right in the belly. It wasn't so funny because the child started crying but the parents did laugh a little because it wasn't a hard smack.
Pros
  • Beach
  • Nice weather in the Spring, Summer, and Fall
  • Very large park in the center that is easy to get lost in
What other participants should know
  • Winter is so cold
  • The school is not in the city center, it's in the business center
Yuki
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Overcoming my past perceptions of China

I had so many questions before applying. Would I make friends? Would the classes be too difficult? What would my daily life look like and would I like it? I went into the exchange to Qingdao very nervous, expecting to get weird looks on the street. Now, I am trying to figure out a way to come back after I graduate for an internship.

From the first week, I met friends who shared my curiosity and passions—people who loved late-night study sessions, café exploring, and spontaneous weekend trips to take the train to surrounding cities in the province or even some flights to cities like Chengdu, Xi'an, and Guangzhou.

The staff at XMandarin Chinese Language School in Qingdao always checked on me to make sure I was comfortable. I met some other Japanese people who helped me navigate homesickness and find some restaurants that served my comfort foods. Even though some of the staff at XMandarin spoke Japanese, and if I really needed to be able to communicate in Japanese they would, they always spoke Chinese or English and that really helped me improve.

Through the weekend events I was able to make friends and I left Qingdao feeling braver, more independent, and surrounded by friends I know I’ll have for life. If you’re considering studying abroad, I genuinely recommend this program.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I embarrassed myself not knowing how to eat a starfish. But once my Chinese friend showed me how to do it I actually didn't mind the taste.
Pros
  • Qingdao is very pretty and the sea is very nice
  • Food is inexpensive and so is milk tea and coffee
  • The international community is very welcoming and locals are nice
What other participants should know
  • Housing options near campus are harder to come by
  • The restaurants around the school are mostly Chinese or Korean
  • Food that is not Chinese food is a bit more expensive
Arthur
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wonderfull classes and teachers

I am very glad that I chose to study at XMandarin Chengdu. After the 6 months that I studied the group classes my Chinese has greatly improved. Also I would like to thank the school for supporting me with the whole visa process, it went very smoothly.

Uppon arriving in Chengdu they also picked me up from the airport and helped me find an accomodation, this really made my life easy and convenient. Because it was my first time in China I needed this help.

The events they organised were also great! I had a lot of fun and made plenty of friends during my stay in Chengdu.

Highly recommend!

Riki
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience

I attended classes at XMandarin Chinese Language School from March 2025 to August 2025. You can choose between one-on-one lessons and group classes, allowing you to select the option that best suits you.

I took one-on-one lessons, and since the teachers tailored the lessons to my level, I was able to study Chinese efficiently. All the teachers speak English well, so even complete beginners can learn from the very start.

Beyond classes, cultural activities exploring Chinese traditions were held several times a month, allowing me to gain deeper insights into China. I participated in learning Chinese calligraphy and Sichuan opera. If you have the opportunity to study Chinese in Chengdu, I highly recommend this language school. With instruction from highly capable teachers, you can significantly improve your Chinese proficiency.